Thorn Plant Hire Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:41 | Winning time: 6m 6.83s

Moneygarrow³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 128| D

5/2

Well-related point/bumper winner (brother to useful hurdler/smart chaser up to 3m Minella Crooner) who posted solid form in pair of graded hurdles this season prior to readily opening his hurdles account (following a wind op) in a 2m5f Warwick maiden last time. May do better again upped in trip.

Form: 122-351

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Swindon Village⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: David Bass| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 130

3/1

6-figure point purchase who was highly tried after making a winning bumper debut last season. Excellent start over hurdles, third in a strong Ffos Las maiden on hurdles bow and backed that up with a decisive victory at Leicester (20.5f). That form has been franked and he can improve tackling 3m.

Form: 2/136-31

They Call Me Hugo³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 132

6/5

Easy winner of a point who again scored with something in hand on hurdles bow at Ffos Las in November. Improved markedly for the step up to 3m when narrowly beaten in steadily-run Grade 2 at Cheltenham last month, unlucky not to win given how the race unfolded. Scopey sort surely has more to offer.

Form: 3/21-12

Hawthorn Street³⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| D

10/1

£155,000 Point winner from the family of Irish National winner Thunder And Roses. Showed plenty following a year off when fourth in a 12-runner novice at Doncaster (19.4f) last January. Off since but should improve, especially now tackling a more suitable trip.

Form: P1/4-

Lifetime In Milan⁶¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Freddie Gordon| T: C Gordon| D

28/1

Milan gelding. Half-brother to 4 winners, including fairly useful hurdle winner/useful chaser Life In The Park and useful hurdler/smart chaser Lifetime Ambition. Off mark in Irish points at third attempt (May 2024). Makes appeal on pedigree and worth a market check on stable/Rules debut.

Form: P4/1-

Pop's Folly⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Finn Lambert| T: G Nicholls

200/1

Little impact in a pair of bumpers and fared no better on reappearance/hurdles bow at Leicester (20.5f) last month. Bred to be suited by this longer trip (dam, half-sister to top-class staying chaser Road To Respect) but needs to improve markedly on what he's shown so far.

Form: 85-7

Forecasts

They Call Me Hugo (6/5), Moneygarrow (5/2), Swindon Village (3/1), Hawthorn Street (10/1), Lifetime In Milan (28/1), Pop's Folly (200/1)

Last year's inaugural running of this valuable novice was won by a useful sort and this looks an interesting renewal. Expensive pointer SWINDON VILLAGE created a good impression when beating a subsequent winner last time and remains capable of better over this longer trip. He's preferred to Moneygarrow who has some solid graded form and shapes as though he'll appreciate the step up to 3m, while They Call Me Hugo has scope to improve following his narrow defeat in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham.